Scaveola plant named ‘Bomy Whit’

ABSTRACT

A new  Scaveola  plant named ‘Bomy Whit,’ particularly distinguished by white flower color, early and abundant flowering response, medium green foliage, vigorous, initially semi-upright becoming decumbent to trailing habit with a well-branched plant habit.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Scaveolaaemula.

Varietal denomination: ‘Bomy Whit’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Scaveola, botanically known asScaveola aemula, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘BomyWhit.’

‘Bomy Whit’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar‘Bomy Whit’ has white flower color, early and abundant floweringresponse, medium green foliage, vigorous, initially semi-uprightbecoming decumbent to trailing habit with a well-branched plant habit.

‘Bomy Whit’ originated from a hybridization in a controlled breedingprogram in Gilroy, Calif., U.S.A. The female parent was an unpatented,proprietary hybrid seedling identified as ‘11-4’ with white color.‘11-4’ has lighter foliage, is later to flower, and has fewer branchesthan ‘Bomy Whit.’

The male parent of ‘Bomy Whit’ was ‘Scawihatis’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.15,003) with white color. ‘Scawihatis’ has smaller flowers, smaller anddarker foliage, fewer branches, and thinner stems than ‘Bomy Whit.’

‘Bomy Whit’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny ofthe stated cross in May 2006 in a controlled environment in Gilroy,Calif., U.S.A. The pollination took place in August 2005 and the seedsowing in January 2006.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Bomy Whit’ was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in theMay 2006 in a controlled environment in Gilroy, Calif., U.S.A.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plantinitiated in May 2006 in Gilroy, Calif., U.S.A., and continuingthereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for ‘Bomy Whit’ are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘Bomy Whit’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.

A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar was applied for in Canada onDec. 24, 2007. ‘Bomy Whit’ has not been made publicly available morethan one year prior to the filing of this application.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of ‘Bomy Whit’ with colors being as true as possiblewith an illustration of this type. The photographic drawing shows 3flowering potted plants of the new variety in a hanging basket and aclose-up of the flowers. These plants were grown and photographed inGilroy, Calif. U.S.A. in June 2008. These plants were approximately 5months old.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The measurements were taken on plants growing in Gilroy, Calif. U.S.A.in April 2008. The plants were growing in 4 inch pots in a greenhousetrial. These plants were about 3–4 months old.

Color Chart used: Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.)2001.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describeplants grown Gilroy, Calif. U.S.A. The following traits have beenrepeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics ofthe new variety. The combination of these characteristics distinguishesthis Scaveola as a new and distinct variety.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW CULTIVAR ‘BOMY WHIT’ AND A SIMILARVARIETY ‘Scawihatis’ (U.S. Plant ‘Bomy Whit’ Pat. No. 15,003) Flowersize Larger Smaller Foliage color/size Lighter/larger Darker/smallerStem thickness Thicker Thinner Branching More Fewer

-   Plant:    -   -   Form, growth and habit.—Medium green foliage, vigorous,            initially semi-upright, becoming decumbent to trailing habit            with a well-branched plant habit.        -   Plant height (inflorescence included).—22–27 cm.        -   Plant width.—25–40 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Immature, leaf color, upper surface.—Closest to RHS 146A.        -   Lower surface.—RHS 144A.        -   Mature, leaf color, upper surface.—Closest to RHS 146A.        -   Lower surface.—RHS 146B.        -   Length.—4.6–5.0 cm.        -   Width.—1.9–2.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Base shape.—Attenuate.        -   Apex shape.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Dentate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Somewhat pilose.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Glabrous.        -   Color of veins, upper surface.—RHS 144B basally; indistinct            otherwise.        -   Color of veins, lower surface.—RHS 144B basally; indistinct            otherwise.        -   Petioles color.—RHS 144B.        -   Petioles length.—0.6–0.7 cm.        -   Diameter of petiole.—0.3 cm.        -   Texture.—Slightly pilose mainly along the margins.-   Stem:    -   -   Number of main branches per plant.—5–8.        -   Number of leaves per stem.—10–12.        -   Color of stem.—RHS 146A.        -   Length of stem.—18–21 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.        -   Length of internodes.—0.5–2.0 cm.        -   Texture.—Slightly strigose.        -   Color of peduncle.—RHS 144B.        -   Length of peduncle.—11–20 cm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—0.3 cm.        -   Texture.—Pilose.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Solitary flowers arise from the leaf axils with one            flower per leaf axil in an alternate arrangement but            appearing so close together they appear to be cluster like.            Flowers are sessile.        -   Blooming habit.—Flowers continuously from spring through the            fall.        -   Number of flowers per inflorescence.—12–17 open at one time            including buds.        -   Duration of flowering.—Continuous flowering throughout the            Summer.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Lastingness of individual florets.—6–8 days.-   Bud (just before opening):    -   -   Color.—Light RHS 1C; heavily overlaid with RHS 144C.        -   Length.—1.0–1.1 cm.        -   Width.—0.3–0.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Broadly acicular.-   Corolla:    -   -   Form.—Composed of 5 petals fused at the base and in a            semicircular or fan-like arrangement to form a lower part            which is open tube-shaped; the petals are situated at obtuse            angles to the flower base and do not overlap.        -   Immature flower color, upper surface.—RHS 155C but whiter            along the margins; RHS 155C in the middle; RHS 144B basal            blotch or ‘eye’ with RHS 144A striations in the blotch.        -   Lower surface.—RHS 155C along the margins, with RHS 158C in            the middle.        -   Mature flower color, upper surface.—RHS 155C but whiter            along the margins; RHS 155C in the middle; RHS 144B basal            blotch or ‘eye’ with RHS 144A striations in the blotch.        -   Lower surface.—RHS 155C along the margins with RHS 158C in            the middle.        -   Floret diameter.—3.3–3.6 cm.        -   Floret length.—3.1–3.2 cm.        -   Petal length.—1.6–1.7 cm.        -   Petal width.—0.4–0.5 cm.        -   Petal shape.—Oblanceolate to elliptical.        -   Apex shape.—Cuspidate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Petal texture, upper surface.—Papillose.        -   Lower surface.—Glabrous.        -   Corolla color, inside.—RHS 1C; RHS 1B striations.        -   Outside.—RHS 3C with a slight RHS 1B overlay.        -   Corolla length.—1.6–1.8 cm.        -   Corolla width.—0.5–0.6 cm.        -   Corolla texture, inside.—Hirsute.        -   Outside.—Pilose.-   Sepals:    -   -   Type.—Composed of one larger and somewhat fleshy sepal and            two narrow sepals, fused at the base.        -   Color of sepals.—RHS 145A.        -   Length of sepals.—0.4–0.7 cm.        -   Width of sepals.—0.05–0.2 cm.        -   Sepal shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex shape.—Broadly acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Pilose at margins on both surfaces.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pistil.—1.        -   Length.—1.2 cm.        -   Stigma color.—RHS 145B.        -   Stigma texture.—Villous.        -   Stamens.—5 protruding from the flower throat.        -   Color of filaments.—RHS N155B.        -   Length of filaments.—0.6–0.7 cm.        -   Anther color.—RHS 155C.        -   Anther length.—0.15 cm.        -   Color of pollen.—RHS 155B.        -   Pollen amount.—Sparse.        -   Fertility/seed set.—Not observed on this hybrid.-   Disease/pest resistance: Disease resistance or susceptibility has    not been observed on this hybrid.

1. A new and distinct variety of Scaveola plant named ‘Bomy Whit,’substantially as illustrated and described herein.